Picnic season

My husband and I have been out and about this week between the raindrops and dressed for the cold. It was a lovely week in nature however, as we revisited Cavendish one day and explored the Dunk River Trail another. There we had our first picnic of the year on a cool but wind-free day.  The boardwalk provided a much better walk than the treadmill other days too.

It was a sunny day for our first picnic, as we sat at a table overlooking Scales Pond, which is a favourite fishing spot of many. 

The area was alive with birds twittering all around us. A Red-winged Blackbird joined us, watching from a nearby tree.

We walked part of the nearby Dunk River Trail that day, a trail which runs parallel to the river and is frequented by anglers too. 

We could hear the birds high in the trees but the only one we saw was a tiny Downy Woodpecker. 

At Cavendish, we walked along the trail by Clark’s Pond. A Bald Eagle sat atop an old snag near the pond. 

A large Snowshoe Hare was feeding along the trail. 

Osprey had rebuilt their nest which was destroyed over the winter. The female was incubating eggs and keeping an eye on the area.

Along the boardwalk, we saw the mother fox and her three kits. The little ones are out and about but look to be nursing still. I like this photo of the mother being nuzzled by one of the little ones.

I hope the young squirrels who are feeding along the boardwalk lately, can avoid the fox as she hunts nearby. This little one is the smallest Red Squirrel I’ve seen and it’s new to the boardwalk this week.

I am including webcam information of an Osprey nest at Old Tracadie Harbour, Prince Edward Island. The two Osprey have at least two eggs which the female is incubating. The dynamics of the pair of birds are fascinating to watch. I look forward to seeing the chicks. The webcam is 

here.

Have a great week everyone! 

Autumn glory

The Dunk River has one of the most beautiful trails on Prince Edward Island. This trail which we visited last spring was on our list for an autumn visit. It was overcast when we arrived at the river but that didn’t matter as we headed out.

The Dunk is a popular fishing river and someone had an earlier start than we did that morning.

While my husband and I aren’t fishing enthusiasts, it is easy to understand some of the reasons people enjoy fishing in such a location. I love how the trail is full of the river sound and while one can usually see the river, in the minutes when it is not visible, its essence still is.

We were slow to walk the trail, stopping often to take photos. The leaves were in various stages of colour and glimpses of their beauty gave us pause. 

The senses come alive in such a setting, a heightened awareness of all as one’s brain attempts to take in everything. At every turn, the scenes were more lovely. From a multi-coloured veil of leaves at eye level

to drama overhead, there was much to absorb. Then the sun came out.

Shafts of light filtered through the trees and highlighted some of the beauty. 

Some light even managed to reach the river. The trees screened the sun in some areas and the water reflected the colours above.

Each new scene was more perfect than the last. 

We saw mushrooms feeding on fallen trees 

and a maple tree with a branch of red leaves and the remainder still green.

For lunch we went back the way we came and drove to Scales Pond on the opposite side of the road. There, a familiar picnic table sat among the trees where a veil of leaves screened the pond below. 

We had homemade chilli for lunch which we quite enjoyed. 

While we ate, a visitor stopped by, looking like it was securing material for its drey in a nearby tree. 

Chickadees sang among the trees as they flitted about oblivious to the visitors at the table.

After lunch, we walked the path along the pond. On the water, a tree dragon stood above the surface of the water, 

while a Great Blue Heron, invisible along the bank, took flight as we approached.

Across the pond, the hay, cut and baled, waited for delivery to the farm. This scene alone is one of my favourites in a day of many.

Finally today, meet Daisy, our new golden grand-dog, just 10 weeks old. Our daughter’s family is enjoying life with Daisy and we are lucky enough to share the joy of a puppy. Daisy is adorable and you’ll be seeing more of her for sure.

November day on the pond

It started out with some sun and clouded over as the day progressed. However, that is enough to get us out of the house these days and onto a trail and a picnic. We headed for an area east of Summerside near a popular fishing pond known as Scales.

My husband and I brought hot soup in a thermos to have after the walk. The soup, a sandwich and hot tea would warm us against the 5 Celsius temperature. However the best thing about the day was that there wasn’t any wind.

November light when it clouds over reminds me of dusk in the warmer seasons. We proceeded to picnic in a sheltered area overlooking the water. 

Meanwhile, our daughter and her Significant Other both love to fly fish on Scales Pond. They were fishing that day and and we spotted them in the distance as we walked along the pond.

The shadows of the trees on the water this day were as perfect as the trees themselves. 

I especially like the photos with more grasses in the foreground.

Eventually, we too floated on the river with our daughter and her SO. The tiny motor on the boat wasn’t powerful enough to break the peace of the setting. We floated along, marvelling in the day, the setting and the company.

Along the shoreline, the grasses looked like straw, a reminder of the season.

The water reflected the shoreline as well as the pattern in the clouds.

In one area, the local beavers have been busy and worn a path to the water’s edge.

We really appreciated such a calm day in November on Scales Pond. We were dressed for winter but felt chilled at home later in the evening. Heating pads soon warmed us however. Despite the cold, it was a great day.  

Uplifting

Recently I was near the International Children’s Memorial Park in central Prince Edward Island and since I hadn’t visited for a few years, I decided to stop by.

The park commemorates children who have died and in the two years since my last visit, many trees have been planted in the memorial forest. As I looked across the area, it was obvious many parents have experienced sorrow and pain in those two years, pain no parent should ever have to know, the death of a child.

There is a pond in the park where islanders fish in season. A trail runs beside the pond. The last time I walked the trail at Scales Pond, hundreds of butterflies lifted off the plants lining the trail. 

It was a spirit lifting experience after walking beside the memorial forest.

The experience this year was similar although not with butterflies. Tree Swallows darted about high above the water, drawing the eyes upward in wonder at the sight of them. Try as I might, I couldn’t manage a good photo of them. However, numerous unseen European Starlings rested in the tall grass ahead of me and as I approached, they lifted skyward, taking my spirits with them.

I managed this photo after watching many starlings take flight.

The location of this park has a way to take you out of yourself to look beyond. It is a wonderful memorial to our children.